A £1.6M NEW home is set to open this autumn to provide vital free accommodation to families of cancer patients.

CLIC Sargent’s ‘Home from Home’ provides a vital lifeline for families who travel often hundreds of miles away from home so they can be nearby while a family member receives specialist cancer treatment.

The charity is planning to open a new ‘Home from Home’, called Jean’s House on Anglesea Road Southampton this autumn.

Jean’s House will have seven en-suite family bedrooms, two open plan kitchen/diners, two lounges and a teenagers’ space, helping families spend more time together and avoid often debilitating travel and accommodation costs.

The charity has launched a fundraising appeal to cover the £1.6million cost for buying and fully adapting the building.

Over £1.2million pounds has already been raised thanks to generous support from donors including: Children with Cancer UK, Signet and Sir Jules Thorne Charitable Trust and now CLIC Sargent are seeking to raise the remaining £400,000 to fully renovate and furnish the house.

The new home will replace the charity’s existing Home from Home at CLIC Haven which opened in the grounds of Southampton Hospital in 1991.

Matt Swift, 18, is currently receiving cancer treatment in Southampton after his cancer relapsed in April 2017. Matt’s family are originally from Jersey but have been temporarily residing in CLIC haven.

Looking round the new building Matt said he is grateful that his mum has a place to stay while he is in hospital and thinks the new building will be good for families.

Matt’s mum Micki who has spent eight months in Southampton while her son receives treatment said: “It’s great to just have that home from home, and it actually feels a bit more rather than it being a hospital environment.”

She said: “CLIC Haven really is a home from home, having other parents who can support you, sometimes you want to talk and sometimes you don’t, so you can just go to your room if you want to be on your own. When Matt’s not wanted to talk much, it’s great to come to CLIC Haven for ten minutes, have a cup of tea.”

Former Saints Midfielder, Matt Le Tisier is supporting the charity and was also shown round the new building.

He said: “The work CLIC Sargent do is vital for kids and young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer, especially if they’re a long way from home. It’s such an important thing to have the family near them.

“I can’t imagine what it must be like for families many miles from home stuck on the hospital ward with a desperately ill child.

“I think it’s something to be really proud of that this building in Southampton will be a vital lifeline for so many families for years to come.

“This house will give them home comforts and most importantly keep families together during a really difficult time. I really hope that everyone gets behind CLIC Sargent for this campaign and gives what they can.”